A Case Study on the Use of Digital Devices and Ghanges in Awareness through the Experience of Participating in Digital literacy Education among Elderly Women

Objectives This study aims to explore, through a qualitative case study method, whether participation in digital literacy education for elderly women leads to changes in their digital device utilization skills and perceptions. Methods For this study, card news creation, drone flying, and coding education were conducted on four elderly women over two 60-minute sessions on September 8 and September 14, 2023. In order to derive the meaning of the change in awareness of the experience of participating in digital literacy education, the participants observed the scenes of the educational site explored from the perspective of an observer, and after the education, the data of individual interviews and additional questions about the experience of participating in this education were analyzed qualitatively over two sessions of about 30 minutes each. Afterwards, the analyzed data were reviewed by experts and the participants to secure the validity of the study. Results The experience of participating in digital literacy education for elderly women gradually reduced their fear of media devices, and the educational experience of using media devices improved their self-confidence. The meaning of the change in digital device use and awareness through the experience of participating in digital literacy education is as follows. ‘First,’ as a ‘change in behavior,’ it created the will to challenge new things, second, as a ‘psychological change,’ it derived the meaning of ‘gratitude through enlightenment and the value of learning,’ and third, as a ‘change in awareness,’ it derived the meaning of ‘self-discovery and improved self-confidence through new experiences.’ Conclusions This study shows that the expansion of information and communication technology and non- face-to-face education using digital devices such as smartphones and computers brings convenience and benefits to the younger generation, but on the other hand, it can cause a sense of isolation and loss in the elderly who are not free to use digital devices. In conclusion, in the future super-aging society, various digital literacy education should be provided so that elderly women can reduce their fear of using digital devices through participation experiences in various digital literacy education and enjoy an active old age. Therefore, it is expected that this study will serve as basic data for digital literacy education related to elderly women.